Eye on the Tigers: Links to LSU during its bye week

LSU will need a good day from Zach Mettenberger against Alabama's top-ranked defense. (Associated Press)

No. 1 Alabama is
preparing for a T-Town showdown with unbeaten Mississippi State this weekend,
but it's already Bama week(s) in Baton Rouge, where LSU has a bye and two weeks
to prepare for its own SEC West marquee matchup with the Crimson Tide.

As LSU looks toward Nov. 3, here are some
links on the Tigers' preparations this week. Hover over the name of each writer
or outlet in order for the hyperlinks to appear:

Jim Kleinpeter of nola.com writes that LSU has been riding its defense, but will need significant
improvement out of Zach Mettenberger and the offense to have a shot against the
Tide.

"If Mettenberger, who was 11 for 29
(against Texas A&M), can't consistently hit receivers in man coverage, the
Alabama game could turn into a repeat of the BCS title embarrassment - or
worse," Kleinpeter writes.

Gannett's Glenn Guilbeau, a former co-worker of ours at the Press-Register,
writes that the Tigers will take a little down time this week, but adds
that it's not only LSU's offense that must raise its level of play on Nov. 3.

"LSU's defense, which is No. 3
in the nation in fewest yards allowed with 243 and No. 2 in pass efficiency
with 13 interceptions and seven touchdowns allowed, will also have to play its
best game," Guilbeau writes. "(AJ) McCarron is no longer inconsistent
and struggling with his accuracy as he was in both games against LSU last
season."

The Advocate's Les East writes that LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis did a good job of
adjusting the Tigers' scheme to defend Texas A&M quarterback Johnny
Manziel. He'll now have two weeks to adjust for Alabama.

"Chavis switched from a four-man
front to a three-man front and put more defensive backs on the field,"
East writes. "The Tigers placed less emphasis on charging at Manziel and
more on containing him and forcing him to throw over the line and into
traffic."

The Advocate's Scott Rabalais, in a column on the Tigers' 24-19 win over Texas A&M, writes
that Les Miles is a "master of crisis management" who once again
found a way to pull a win out of the fire.

"It looks haphazard at times, but it
can't be entirely by accident," Rabalais writes. "Miles is now 82-19
at LSU, one percentage point back of Urban Meyer for the second-best career
winning percentage in SEC history. His team will go into November with one or
fewer losses for the sixth time in eight seasons."